the whirlwind

So presently, I am sitting in the comfort of my own home. My dogs sitting next to me sleeping the day away. Outside is the sunny Cali weather surrounds all, the day is in full swing. The truth is, I miss Thailand. For many reasons I wish I could be back, even for just a second. It ended too fast, and the sad part is I was looking forward to the end. It was such a whirlwind, I didn't quite really feel the weight of leaving. At this moment I don't feel at home, I feel unsettled. It's feeling I can't quite explain and I'm quite sure how to deal. This didn't really hit me until Erin left my house yesterday. It's really over, and we're the only ones that understand. 

hello PHUKET.

I have been anticipating this vacation since the day I arrived in Thailand, and it's finally here! Beautiful Phuket. It took a overnight bus to get here, but it's worth a night of uncomfortable sleep. Erin and I are staying at the Marriot Beach Club Resort on Mai Khao beach. It's a little out of the ways, but it's so nice here.

This blog entry is going to be a little different in the sense that it'll be mostly comprised of photos. Enjoy ;]

Erin and I in Patong Beach.

A day by the pool ;]

Beautiful Mai Khao Beach

It was amazing!

James Bond Rock

Our date ;] Indian food buffet!

Breath-taking Phi Phi Islands.

The view from breakfast ;]

hello chinatown.

So we left Ubon today. Our departure isn't for another week or so, and now I'm staying in Bangkok for a night and tomorrow Erin and I's Phuket adventure begins!! We traveled here with friends of ours. They are one of the nicest Thai families, they offered to bring us to Bangkok. We're staying in the heart of Chinatown and i LOVE it. I had a chance to experience Chinatown a little bit during x-mas break and it was so great. There's a different atmosphere here. 

The goal of this quick trip to the city was to do some last minute shopping. So Erin, Mike and I hit up Pratunam (a huge shopping area.) While we were down there we decided to splurge and eat at the buffet at the top of the Baiyote Tower; the tallest building in Bangkok. It was really nice and we had a great time at the chinese buffet. We left with full tummies and headed back to Chinatown to call it a night. 

Farewell Ubon

It's bright and early, I'm on my way out. But this time it's for good. I headed to Bangkok and then Phuket. This leg of my journey concludes my missionary year. I have said good bye to all and I can only hope that we will meet again. Ubon has been a great place with some many amazing experiences. I am so lucky to have been sent here, God had a plan all along. I will never forget this place ;]

goodbye Tan

So the day has finally arrived; my last day. I have thought about this day repeatedly, wondering if it would ever come and now that it has I wish time would slow down for just a second. Erin and I had a small party with our students in the afternoon. It was really nice to see them one last time and just enjoy their company. There has been one student that has always stood out from all the rest, his name is Tan. Academically and socially, he's very capable. He probably speaks the best English out of all my students. It was especially sad to say good bye to him. 

Yesterday after our last day of actual class he told me, 'Leah, your eyes look so sad.' I didn't even realize, but it was true; I was a bit sad to be done with teaching. Saying good bye today was really hard, he looked so sad. What he told me touched me so much, I will never forget it. He said, 'thank you so much for being my teaching, you're the best teacher.' To tell you the truth I was a little shocked, and so flattered. This is the same student who asked me about my beliefs in Jesus. And ever since then, I have felt that we connected. I feel so blessed to have been his teacher and him my student. I leave here knowing that I did something good for at least one person and that makes it all worth it. 

My Favorites

This entry is dedicated to all the random and unforgettable memories that I have encountered in Ubon. (No particular order.)

1. All the English camps.  Thanks to Esther (our agent), we had so many opportunities to teach outside of our small school. 

2. Wat Nong Bua. On a random exploration day, Erin and I visited Wat Nong Bua; a very beautiful temple in Ubon. 

3. Song Tao rides to the supermarket. Before we got a motorbike, grocery shopping was done via song tao. The sip baht (10) ride got us from A to B and back ;]

4. Exploring the moon river neighborhood. On a random afternoon, Erin and I took a walk down my the moon river and walked through the 'slums' of Ubon. 

5. Hanging out with the 'nurses'. During a Thai festival, a group of female nurses befriended Erin and I. They showed us around the moon river and told us about the festival. 

6. Loy Kratong. In November, the festival called Loy Kratong filled the moon river with floating candles. During this, Erin and I both had a chance to raise our own fire lantern into the sky. 

7. Belgium backpackers. Long story, but the night ended with Erin and I escaping an awkward situation with the two guys from Belgium. 

8. Exercising/Smoothies. After exercising in the park, we'd visit our smoothie lady and enjoy a orange/lemon smoothie. 

9. Hanging out with Charles. One of our Thai friends, and one of the few not awkward situations. 

10. Hair Salon. Amanda introduced us to this hair salon. The best hair washing I've ever had. 

11. Riding the motorbike w/ Amanda. Never thought it could happen, but yes we fit, all three of us on the motorbike. 

12. Eating out w/ Amanda. There wasn't much to do in Ubon, so our hang outs always ended with us eating out. lol. 

13. Learning to drive. Amanda taught Erin and I to drive the motorbike before she left. 

14. Eating Italian. The best non-Thai food in Ubon. I'm pretty sure we were their best customers ;]

15. Watching movies in Thai. Ubon's lack of English, forced us to oblige and watch a few films in Thai. Some not worth it, but one was actually good. 

16. Songkran. One of the most fun holidays I have ever experienced. Literally a giant water fight. So much fun!

17. Cruising town. Post getting the motorbike, our trips to town were a little more free. We mapped out our own route to the supermarket and Starbucks, which involved the back roads; always an interesting experience. 

18. Sun-baking. A day dedicated to getting dark, or sometimes very very sun burn. lol. 

19. Getting coffee by the park. Two very nice ladies used to serve us at this coffee shop, they make a very good iced mocha. 

20. Living off of 7-eleven. When there's no where to go and nothing to do, 7-eleven was always there. lol. 

Here we go...

It's official, I have now began my last week of teaching at the Ubon SDA language school. It feels like yesterday that I came here; everything was new and fresh. And now that's not the case anymore. I have grown used to the way of life here, it's no longer foreign. 

A long time ago I stopped considering myself as a tourist here. For the past eight months I have been living and working in Thailand. I have come to know Ubon, it has become my home throughout this time. I have made friends, some I know that I will never be able to forget. 

 And then there are my favorite acquaintances; the cha-yen lady, the fried rice lady, the barista at Starbucks, the ladies with the smoothie stand, the pad thai couple, everyone at 'Italian' and the sticky rice and mango lady, (yes they are all connected with food, lol.) These people have befriended Erin and I while we have lived here, and it's a little sad to think I'll never see them again. 

It's really weird to think that everything I have come to know for the past eight months is going to end. I'm going back to reality and that's a little scary. As exciting as it is to be going home, I am going to truly miss this place and all the memories that it holds. Life is always moving forward, there's no point in trying to slow it down...here we go, the start of something new.